Lugovoi: Russia responds

Updated 09.04 Wed Jul 18 2007

Keywords: Gordon Brown, Russia, Alexander Litvinenko, Andrei Lugovoi, David Miliband

Russia's Ambassador to London has defended Moscow's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi to face charges in connection with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

The Crown Prosecution Service wants Lugovoi to stand trial on charges of poisoning Mr Litvinenko with radioactive polonium 210 in London last year - an accusation he has always denied.

"We are being punished for observing our own constitution which is not just unfair and unacceptable but even contradicts common sense" - Yuri Fedotov

Russia's Ambassador Yuri Fedotov however complained that even British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had accepted that the extradition of a Russian citizen to stand trial abroad would require a change to the constitution.

He added: "We are being punished for observing our own constitution which is not just unfair and unacceptable but even contradicts common sense."

He again pointed to Britain's refusal to extradite the tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who is wanted in Russia on money laundering charges, and the Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev.

However the comparison with the Litvinenko case was firmly rejected by No 10.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "These are very separate matters. We have not received any equivalent, detailed case setting out grounds for extradition for those individuals."

Mr Fedotov also said his country would not be rushed into responding to the expulsion of four Russian diplomats.

He added: "I think it is a stage which requires a serious assessment and a serious overview of our bilateral relations."

But he did say there is a possibility that Lugovoi could face trial in Russia.